What are the aims of the Audacious Women Festival?
The Festival invites and supports women to take their first steps on a journey to audacity. We provide safe, single-sex spaces to empower women to “Do What You Always Wish You Dared” and run events celebrating or showcasing the work of audacious women
How often is the Audacious Women Festival held?
The Festival has run annually since 2016. It usually takes place in and around Edinburgh over a long weekend in late February. Since 2020 some events have been held online throughout the year.
What type of events do you hold?
We run workshops, hold conversations, present exhibitions and promote performances and music events. But we are open to any event which relates to audacious women, whether it’s by or about audacious women, or encouraging other women in their own audacity.
How is the Festival programme created?
Any individual woman or organisation who supports our aims can make a proposal to run an event at the Festival. The Audacious Women Collective decides which events to include.
Are event leaders and performers paid?
Workshop leaders and performers are paid a fair agreed fee.
How long does each event last?
Typically, Festival workshops last a couple of hours and conversations an hour. But we also run shorter or longer sessions where appropriate, and sports, theatre and music events of variable length. The duration of different types of events varies according to their nature. The time required for an event is not itself a barrier to including it.
Some events are “women only”. What does this mean?
These events provide safe, supportive single-sex spaces (as allowed under the Equality Act 2010) to help women overcome the barriers and discrimination we face on the basis of our sex.
They are only open to (biological) females, including those who identify as non-binary or gender fluid.
This is to give women the confidence to participate fully in our activities including, for example, women who have been traumatised by male violence, or who suffer from low self-esteem, or who for religious reasons are unable to engage socially with men.
Can men, non-binary or gender fluid males and transwomen participate in the Audacious Women Festival?
Yes. We run a number of open events which everyone is welcome to attend.
How is the Audacious Women Festival funded?
Since 2018 the Festival has been self-funded from ticket sales and donations. It is supported by the voluntary work of the Audacious Women Collective. For 2021 we received a grant from Foundation Scotland towards the costs of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, which allowed us to develop the virtual Festival site.
How are ticket prices set?
Ticket prices are set at a level which covers all the Festival’s costs. We also want the Festival to be as widely accessible as possible. There are three ticket prices: a “standard” price which reflects the cost of providing the Festival; a “concession” which makes the Festival accessible to a wider group of women; and a “supporter” ticket which includes a donation to help balance the books. We also try to provide a number of free events.